Riptide fall to Outlaws, 17-7
July 8, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Los Angeles Riptide News Release
CARSON, CA (Saturday, July 8, 2006) - The Los Angeles Riptide dropped its second straight game, falling 17-7 to the first place Denver Outlaws at The Home Depot Center Track and Field Complex. Michael Watson scored two goals for Los Angeles, which saw its record drop to 2-5.
The Riptide struggled offensively in the first half, managing just one goal in each of the first two quarters. Denver (6-2), which defeated Los Angeles 22-11 on July 1, jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as Josh Sims started the scoring off with a long-range two-point shot at the 13:02 mark. Brendan Mundorf and Hunter Lochte would score for the Outlaws before Riptide attackman Brian Nee scored with 11:37 remaining in the opening quarter to make it 4-1. Denver would add one more goal with just 12 seconds remaining in the quarter to take a 5-1 advantage at the end of the first.
The second quarter was another struggle for the Riptide, with Outlaw goalkeeper Trevor Tierney stifling them throughout. Tierney finished with 18 saves in the game. Using tough, physical defending, Denver only allowed Watson's goal at the 14:09 mark of the second quarter, as Los Angeles momentarily closed the gap to 5-2 before Denver exploded for three goals in the final 1:46 of the first half to extend its lead to 10-2 at the break. Matt Brown, Mike Law and Lochte all scored for the Outlaws in the outburst in the final minute of the first half.
Los Angeles opened the third quarter attempting to get back into the game with a goal by Andrew Combs at the 13:45 mark to make it 10-3. Seconds later, Denver pushed the lead back to 11-3, before the Riptide added a flurry of goals from Anthony Kelly at the 12:44 mark and a beautiful behind the head goal from Watson with 10:32 remaining in the third cut the Outlaws lead to 11-5.
Six goals was as close as Los Angeles would get, however, as Denver poured in five goals in the final six minutes of the third quarter as Law added two more to his total and Chris Cercy provided a stop to the L.A. momentum when he won a face-off and took it in himself for a goal at the 5:56 mark. Jeff Sonke scored for Denver with just one second remaining to make the lead 16-5 at the end of the quarter.
With Denver controlling the play, Los Angeles only netted Sean Lindsay's two-pointer with 14:03 remaining in the fourth quarter that made it 16-7. Lindsay has now scored at least one goal in the Riptide's last six games and the Riptide has recorded a two-point goal in each of the last four games.
Denver's Law saw his remarkable five-goal day come to an end with 6:30 left when he put the finishing touches on the win, scoring past L.A. goalie Matt Vallone, who replaced Tillman Johnson at the end of the third quarter.
The Riptide returns to action on July 22 when it hosts the San Francisco Dragons at 1:00 p.m. at the Home Depot Center Track & Field Complex.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 8, 2006
- Bayhawks Handle Cannons 19-12 - Boston Cannons
- Matt Ward Leads Defending MLL Champion Bayhawks to 19-12 Win Over Boston - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- Lizards Slaughter Rattlers, 19-7 - New York Lizards
- Barrage Bounce Back From Two-Game Losing Streak With 17-7 Victory - Philadelphia Barrage
- San Francisco Dragons Dominate the Chicago Machine, 22-10 - San Francisco Dragons
- Riptide fall to Outlaws, 17-7 - Los Angeles Riptide
- Three Team Trade Sends Cantabene To Philadelphia - Philadelphia Barrage
- Outlaws rip Riptide, 17-7 - Denver Outlaws
- Pride Fall to Barrage in Front of Record Crowd at Mercer County Park - New Jersey Pride
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